Wheel guard



March 15, 193s.' -RDE PALMA 2,110,929

WHEEL-GUARD Filed Feb. e, 1935 WEA/TOR RALPH DE PAL/1A Patented Mar. "1,5, 1938 lPATENT orrics WHEEL GUARD Ralph De Palma, tlDetroit, Mich., assignor tov American Tire Guard Company, Detroit, Mich.,A a corporation of Michigan .Application February s, 1935. serial No. 5.279

.7 Claims.

This invention relates to wheel guards for use in connection with vehicle wheels having resilient tires and will be found to provide for the .continued and safev operation of the vehicle upon the 5 collapse of the tire.

y Broadly, the invention has to do With a tire guard in which the parts thereof are brought together in a manner which achieves 'maximum lightness, strength and resiliency and a relatively low cost of manufacture.

One specific phase of the invention has to do with an improved tread member .for the guard, .and by way of brief preliminary reference thereto, :it is pointed out that the same contemplatesa simple l and expeditious means by which an initially separate tread member may be securedto the body vof the guard without the intervention of welding or other fastening means, and in a manner which provides ample strengthto withstand the radial,

lateral and other stresses to which a guard of this type is subjected, it being observed in passing that l in eliminating the necessity of welding the tread member to the body or employing bolts or other separate fastening means for this mounting, the

cost of manufacture is decreased and at the same time an improved product is produced'I In addition, by making the tread member of the 'guard 'in aseparate piece,and thenmounting the same upon the body'of the guard, these major parts may, if desired, be made from dissimilar metals and, of course, produced by separate stamping, casting, rolling or other operations with the result that there is avoided the necessity of the complicated stamping operations necessary for :l5 the production of guards from single pieces of metal, all of which looks to a low-percentage of rejections and an improved product.

Another advance markedA by the invention resides in the provision -of Aa .tire guard` or 40 emergency wheel made up of a series of superposed Alayers of metal or other material, tol provide the relatively great strength known to be inherent in a laminated structure and at the same time providing the greatest Wall thicknesses at Ithe places most needed. y

-Also, there is to be considered the fact that a laminated structure provides .for a hard, wear-A resisting outside surface and a soft and tough inside or underlying structure, or vice-versa, without the necessity of resorting to case -hardening steps that would otherwise be necessary to achieve this highly desirable end, and finally, the manufacture of a guard in the form of laminations `has thev effect of simplifying the stamping operation because, as is known, several relatively thin sheets of A thickness of the laminations.

The invention further looks to a wheel guard of the type suggested which is economicalvto manufacture, resilient for the purpose of absorbing shock due to initial and continued contact,

' with the ground, one that is neat in appearance, 10

and which by reason of the grace of lines thereof and its harmonious association with the adjacent tire, actually has the effect ofimproving the -appearance of the vehicle upon `which it is mounted.

' Other objects and advantages will be apparent 15 during the course of the following description.

lIn the accompanying drawing, forming apart of "this application and in whichlike numerals are `employed to designate like parts throughout the same, f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional perspective disclosing a wheel guard embodying the invention,

Rlgure '2 is a similar view disclosing `a modification, l' 25 Figure f3 is a. similar view disclosing a further modification. i

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view disclosing another expression of the invention.

\ In the drawing, the numeral 5 designates the 30 body of the improved guard, the body being shown in the form of an annulus having the inner pej ripheral portion thereof provided with suitable attaching ,means such, for example, as alaterally projecting flange ,'l secured -by welding or other 35 suitable means to the adjacent portion of the rim- 8. However, it is clear that the invention is ot restricted to the specjiiic attaching means herein disclosed and that anp other attaching'means iound adaptable for thepurpose ymay be em- 40 A ployed with equal advantage without departing from the scope of the invention.

The body 5 of the guard is formed between the inner and outer peripheral portions thereof with l' an annular strengthening andreinforcing bead 45 I0 defining oppositely located crotches l2 and Il and at the same time deflning'a radially projecting bracing ange I6.

It is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 that a tread member I8 is associated with the peripheral outer 50 portion of the body 5 and, of course, is formed as aseparate element for subsequent connection with the body of the guard.

The tread member IB is shown to be substantially triangular in cross-section with the bight 55 or connecting portion 20 thereof positioned Yto form a tread surface, while the legs 22 and 24 of the tread member are in converging relation, of course, and are associated with the bead I0 in a manner which provides for the firm connection of the tread member with the body without the intervention of welding or other extraneous fastening means.

In explaining this important feature of the invention it is pointed out that theleg 24 extends closely along one side of the peripheral flange I6, flatly. in.contact therewith, and has the inner edge portion thereof turned into and closely nested in the crotch i4. On the other hand, the inner edge portion of the leg 22v is nested in the crotch l2 'at a point diagonally opposite the inner edge portion of the leg 24 so as to cooperate with such inner edge portion of the leg 24 in binding or securing the tread member I8 to the body 5.

Otherwise expressed, the bead I0 defines a wall ,extending at an acute angle to the radius of the guard, and such wall is firmly clamped between the inner edge portions of the converging Walls 22 land 24 with the result that the treau member is held in a firmly anchored position on the body 5. To further hold the tread member firmly in position with respect to the boch' 5, the outer peripheral edge of the flange |6is in direct engagement with and consequently has the effect of bracing the bight portion 20 of the tread member i8.

In other words, the tread member i8 has a firm attaching connection vat the inner edges of the legs 22 and 24 thereof and is braced at the bight portion 2li thereof by the peripheral flange I6 which leads to the statement that there is amultipoint contact between the tread member and the body 5 producing a firm connection between the tread member and the body without the interven- 'tion of such extraneous fastening devices as welding. l

The particular means employed for .mounting the tread member provides for the creation of the tread member in a stamping, casting, rolling or other process, separate and apart from the means employed for the creation of the body 5, and in this way there is avoided the need of the complicated stamping operation necessary for the production of these major parts in a single step.

The multi-point contact between the tread member and the body of the guard and the generous area of contact-between these parts is such that the guard is enabled to withstand the radial, lateral and other stresses to which adevice of this character is known to-be subjected, without disturbing or loosening the firm connection between the several parts of the guard.

Coming now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the guard may be made from a series of lamlnations 30 and 32, or additional laminations if desired,

and in this case, such iaminations are provided with vcomplemental interfltting, circumferential strengthening and reinforcing annular beads 34 functioning, not only as such, but as a support or resting place for one leg 36 of a tread member 31.

More particularly, the Atread member 31 is located radially outw rd of the bead 34 and is formed with'conver ng legs and an intervening bight or tread portion which, of course, constitutes the base of the triangle.

One leg of the triangular treadrnember 31 is shown to` constitute what might be said to be a continuation of the annular strengthening bead 34,-wh11e the other leg of the' triangular tread member is shown to rest upon and t0 be SUPPQYe'd by the bead 34.

With further reference to the formation of the guardtfrorn a plurality of complemental laminations, it will be vseen that such laminations are held together first, by the various turns necessary for the formation of the beads 34and, seclond, by the abrupt bends required for the forma'- tion of vthe tread member 31., This positively prevents the separation of the various laminations and holds these parts securely together without the intervention of rivets or other fastening means.

It will be seen that the formation of the guard from a plurality of complemental laminations provides the great strength known to be inherent Vin a structure of this kind without the need of the relatively great wall thickness necessary for equal strength in a one-piece structure.

Also, by resorting to a .laminated structure, there is made possible the employment of dissimilar metals, a hard wearing surface and an underlying soft and tough'surface, or vice-versa.

More specifically, if v desired, the road contact lamination of the guard may be made of a metal having a relatively highcarbon content allowing the same to be brought, by tempering, to a relatively high degree of hardness to resist abrasion lateral bend 60 defining a. tread portion 62. In this form of invention,l it is proposed that there shall be a plate 64 positioned closely between the otherwise free edge of the tread portion 62 and thebead sov as to support the tread portion 62. This plate 64 is welded or otherwise secured at the edge thereof to the adjacent edge of the tread portion v62 and looks to the elimination of the complicated and difficult stamping operation necessary for the formation of a tread member triangular or substantially triangular in crosssection. l

In the form of invention disclosed in Figure 4, the body 60 of the guard is inthe nature of an anrlulusv secured possibly by a flange 82 to the rim 84 or other appropriate part of the wheel.

\body 40 radially outward vof the bead 50 is shown to be provided with a The body 80 is shown to be provided at a point lbetween the inner and outer peripheral edges thereofy with a lateralannular deformation delining a strengthening bead 86 corresponding to the bead Eq.

A separate tread member 68,-substantially V- shaped in cross-section, is welded or otherwise joined at one edge thereof as indicated at 3l to the outer peripheral edge of the annulus 80, while the inner leg of the V-shaped tread member is nestled in the crotch defined by the bead 86. This provides a very simple method of manufacture and avoids the need of complicated stamping, rolling and other operations that would be necessary for the formation of the guard from a single piece of metal.

With reference to the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention looks toy the provision of a tire guard characterized by great strength with unusual lightness for a device of this character and that the guard may be mounted inconspicuously at `one side of a tire, possibly the inner side thereof, to provide an ever present means by which, in the event of a blowout or loss of tire pressure through any cause, the vehicle is allowed to continue in a straight line, without the possibility of being forced to one side of the road or turned over as so many times results from sudden loss Aof tire pressure.

One of the major problems manufacture and avoids the need of complicated stamping, rolling and other operations necessary for the construction of theguard from a single piece ofmetal. -However, from the foregoing it should .be apparent that the invention disclosed and claimed herein involves more than the mere duplication. of parts or the making of the body in the form of a plurality of laminations where it was formerly made in one piece, it being fully A recognized thatthe mere duplication of partsgis barren of invention. v l

If it happens'that noy spare tire is available,

lthe guard serves as an emergency wheel allowing`the car to be driven to a place of tire repair. It has been found that, even though the car is driven over long distances with the deiiated tire in place, no damage isdone to the tire.- This is true because, as is clear from the drawings, the guard supports the weight of the vehicle and thereby prevents the rim of the wheel from cutting through the tube and into the material of the deflated casing, it being observed that it is a matter of common knowledge among motorists, that if a car is driven on a dat tire for a distance of only aiew yards, it is not unusual to iind that the inner tube has been completely destroyed andthe wall of the casing broken down to a point where the tire is of little use and, in

any event, is in nee'dof major repair.

Repeated tests at high speeds have shown that the improved guard is possessed of ample strength to withstand the shock due to sudden and continued contactfwith the ground and that there is an absence of the terrific noise and jolting that is known to accompany the operation of a vehicle on the rim-only.

What is claimed is:

l. in a wheel guard, an annular body provided between the inner and outer peripheral portions thereoil with anannular strengthening bead defining awall between the inner and cuter peripheral edges of the annular body and extending at an/acute angle to the radius of the body, and a separate tread. member receiving i the outer peripheral portion of the body and having converging legs for clamping engagementwith opposite sides of the said wall of the bead to secure the tread member in place.

2. In a wheel guard, auannular body provided between the inner and outer peripheral portions thereof with an annular strengthening bad de.;l

in connection withl the uselo'f-wheel guards of the type shown herein is the matter of weight. f Of course, the weight ning a wall extending at an acute angle to the radius of the body, and a separate tread member having converging legs in iirm pressure engagement with opposite sides of said wall of the bead converging attaching legs, the inner portions of said legs being nested in said crotches and being in pressure engagement with the intervening portion of said annulus to secure the tread member in place.

4. In a wheel guard, an annular body provided between the outer and inner peripheral edges thereof with an annular strengthening bead deiining oppositely located crotches, and a separate tread member having an outer tread portion and converging attaching legs, the inner portions of said legs being nested in said crotches and being in pressure engagement with opposite sides of the intervening portion of said annulus to constitute means securing the tread member in place, the

outer peripheral portionof .said annulus being in bracing relation to said tread portion of the treadr member.

5; In a wheel guard, an annular body provided between the outer and inner peripheral edges thereof with an annular strengthening bead delining oppositely located crotches and an intervening angular wall, and a separate treadmember having an outer tread portion and converging attaching legs, the inner portions of said legs being nested in said crotches and being in pressure engagement with opposite sides of the intervening Wall to secure the tread member in place, the outer peripheral portion of said an- *I nulus being in bracing relation to said tread portion of the tread member and extending closely along one of said converging legs and in contact therewith. i

6. In a wheel guard, an annular body provided between the inner and outer peripheral portions thereof with an annular strengthening bead 'deflning a wall extending at an acute angle to the radius of the body, and a separate tread member receiving the outer peripheral portion of said annular body and having converging legs engagedwith Asaid wall of the bead, said tread member and said body being of dissimilar materials. i i

`.'7. In a wheel guardan annular body provided adjacent the outer periphery thereof with aninular strengthening beadV defining radially spaced 

